Central Lakes, Dunedin - South Otago, Southland, Waitaki > Dentistry > Southern District Health Board (Southern DHB) >
Southern DHB Community Oral Health Service
General Dentist Service
Description
We offer free basic preventive, treatment and specialist oral care to children that meet our eligibility criteria for publicly funded health care.
Getting oral and dental health off to a good start is an important part of ongoing good health and well-being.
Free basic dental care is available to New Zealand children and includes:
- Annual Checkups
- Oral Health advice and encouragement for good oral health
- Examination and dental X-rays, if necessary
- Preventative treatment, such as topical fluoride and fissure sealants (coatings)
- Restorations (fillings) and extractions
Children will receive checks from the community dental service. Our dental buses visit locations across the district.
Who is eligible for free basic oral and dental care?
Basic oral and dental care is available to children who are in the care of:
- A NZ Citizen or permanent resident
- An Australian Citizen or Australian permanent resident or an Australian planning to live in NZ permanently.
- An interim visa holder
- A refugee, or protected person or survivor of people trafficking
- A NZ Aid programme student
- Is in the care or control of the chief executive of The Ministry of Social Development.
To find a provider, click on the area nearest you:
Waitaki - Ōamaru to Palmerston
Invercargill City and Southland
To find out more or to enrol in the Community Oral Health Service, please contact:
Otago: 0800 672 543 Email:
Southland: 0800 570 300 Email:
You can access any of our oral health services by getting in touch with any of our clinicians and discussing the care you need.
Government Funded/Subsidised Dental Care
Children up to age 13
Website
Contact Details
Website
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Otago Phone
0800 672 543
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Southland Phone
0800 570 300
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Email
community.oralhealth@southerndhb.govt.nz
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This page was last updated at 2:45PM on April 12, 2022. This information is reviewed and edited by Southern DHB Community Oral Health Service.